This touch of cooler drier weather is seen by some as a harbinger of the approaching autumn. Considering the lousy summer weather we’ve had this year, it’s a welcomed change and one I’ll thoroughly enjoy since it’s about perfect for nearly any outdoor activity. I’m not a big admirer of heat-and-humidity weather conditions. If I was, I’d probably be living in one of the deep Sunbelt states right now.

I find it quite amusing that many consider the end of summer as being the Labor Day weekend, but that may be due to the fact it means the kids are back in school, some public swimming pools will close, and private backyard pools start collecting those first early falling leaves. That same mindset is also often perpetuated by the media these days, even the Weather Channel, who should know better. And advertising is full of “end of summer” sales themes. Stores start building their inventories of fall clothing while reducing that of the summer stuff. Ever try to find cargo shorts or swim wear in a store after Labor Day? Good luck.

Although it’s historically ushered in with little fanfare, the grey squirrel season opened in New York on Sept.1. And for waterfowl hunting enthusiasts, the early Canada goose season throughout upstate opened on that same date and runs until Sept. 25. Due to the extremely high numbers of resident, non-migrating geese in the state these days, the limits are very liberal, eight birds per day and 16 in possession. Because of the special gear such as goose decoys and other requirements (nontoxic shot, federal duck stamp) needed to hunt geese, the participating number of hunters – at least in our area – is fairly modest. But squirrel hunting is a different story, or should be.

If there ever was a very basic and honest form of hunting, it has to be squirrel hunt ing. All that’s required is a gun and ammo, a current small game license and grey squirrels, of which there are plenty of in our area. If you doubt that, just ask avid birders who maintain bird feeders, or farmers who raise corn. Also, if there ever was the perfect vehicle to introduce young people to hunting, it’s for grey squirrels.

The population of grey squirrels in New York has increased this year because of the early and warm spring weather. Also, the effects of an El Nino-La Nina in the Northeast will likely reduce the amount of snowfall during the coming winter months. The warmer conditions are apt to bring about a drastic increase in the population of squirrels, meaning those taken by hunters this fall will have minimal effect on the overall grey squirrel population in the future.

Unlike deer hunting, where young hunters are not likely to see that many deer, or upland bird hunting, where wingshooting skills play a major role, the young hunter will usually see lots of game and have multiple shooting opportunities when in prime grey squirrel habitat such as mast-bearing forests or near standing corn fields that border on adult woodlands. And squirrels are very good to eat when properly prepared for the table. When accompanied by an experienced adult hunter, youngsters learn the safety rules of hunting and shooting and also get to observe nature in its basic and honest form. Often, more than squirrels will be seen when hunting for bushytails, and the sighting of deer, turkeys, or maybe even a coyote or fox adds excitement to the outing.